Intimate Affairs [ON HOLD]

X I

"Wait."

Luc paused at the door. He'd turned to leave seeing as there were no words exchanged between us with Mason out of our company. Perhaps he thought with privacy one of us would take the initiative to strike up a much needed conversation. I think he was mostly waiting for me to initiate it. But the expectations were reversed and Luc cowardly remained quiet until he started to leave without so much as announcing his exit.

That's when I decided to put on my big girl panties and speak. When I had his attention, I straightened in the bed, using the pillows to keep me prompted. "I can't-I won't stay." I said.

"Why?" was his simplistic reply.

"Why?" I repeated venomously. Anger flared in my veins, which was unfortunate seeing as I wanted to stomp the whole square of the room but I was still aching from my wounds. "I'm in this mess because of you."

Luc sighed, hanging his head as he backtracked in the room like a child sent in here by his mother. "For as long as I've know Valentine, he's never laid a hand on a woman."

"Well, he didn't. His men did it while he watched." I clarified.

Luc approached the bed, his hand gingerly sliding into his pockets as he did so. He stopped at the foot of the bed. "I'm sorry."

I'd half expected him to apologize, but I couldn't help to blame myself. I wouldn't have gotten into this if I hadn't stolen from him in the first place. "I never should've pawned your wife's ring, I'm sorry too."

"She's not my-"

I continued before he could because it needed to be said. I needed to acknowledge what I'd done-so did he. "I'm just not a home wrecker and I didn't know you were married when we slept together-"

"I'm not married."

I was dumbfounded by the revelation. "But the wedding ring and Olivia-"

"She's dead to me." He said.

Relief and immense guilt sunk into my chest all at once. He wasn't married, but he was a widow and he probably kept the ring as a remembrance of her. "Shit, I'm sorry. I never should've-"

"Like I said, I should've gotten rid of the ring a long time ago." He said nonchalantly, which was odd considering his wife was dead and the ring had to be all that's left of her.

"Look, just take the money from the pawn. Then we'll be done with each other." I didn't even know where my stuff was. When I left my apartment complex, Taron had put it in the trunk and drove off with it when he dropped me off at the club.

"You need the money more than I do." He said.

"Okay, I get it. I'm poor, but don't treat me like a charity case."

"I was being generous for the shit position I put you in Tuesday night. This is me making up for it."

"How long am I allowed to stay?"

"Until Mason says you're better. He will be checking on your periodically especially while I'm away."

"I don't need a babysitter."

"You're kidding yourself if you think I'm leaving you alone in my house after you just stole from me."

"I apologized for that." I sighed. "I don't see why I can't just, I don't know, go stay in one of the rooms below your suite. You wouldn't have to worry about me stealing anything then."

"You must've forgotten I told you we were in myhouse. It's nowhere near the hotel. In fact, we're not even in Atlanta."

"Where are we?"

"New York."

I gasped. "New York? As in Times Square-the big apple?"

"Yes."

"How the fuck did I get here?"

"We flew in my private helicopter."

He owns a building and a helicopter. Yep, Lucian Kingsley has officially become google worthy. "Okay . . ."

"There's fresh clothes in the bathroom and towels and washcloths for you. Be careful and get some rest."

"Where are you going?"

"I have work to do."

"But . . ." I didn't want him to leave.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He knew that hadn't been what I wanted to say, but he didn't press it any further. He. nodded my way before he began to walk towards the again. "Dorothea is my housekeeper. She will be at your disposal, I have instructed her to check in on you every hour."

He had a housekeeper? I shouldn't have been shocked, but the distance between us made me long for his company even more. Not because of the one night stand we had, but because I didn't want to close my eyes and somehow end up in Valentine's clutches again.

Not that I was accusing Luc of stooping that low.

"Do you need-are you going to be okay?"

Luc asked.

"Yes." I had to be. I was done with being everyone's burden. "Thanks."

Seemingly surprised by my gratitude, he cleared his throat. "Get some rest."